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Buenos Aires, Argentina

Argentina achieves moderate score in EITI implementation

Outcome of the Validation of Argentina

The EITI Board concluded that Argentina has achieved a moderate overall score in EITI implementation. Since joining the EITI in 2019, Argentina has adopted a flexible approach to its EITI reporting, enabling the government and multi-stakeholder group to provide timely, first-time disclosures and support public oversight of the extractive sector through the establishment of open portals and systematic disclosures.

The extractive industries are an important part of Argentina’s economy, accounting for 4.6% of national GDP and nearly 12% of exports in 2019. The country hosts one of the world’s largest non-conventional oil and gas reserves and is attracting new investments in its mining sector, particularly in new lithium projects. In this context, the EITI has provided a unique platform for stakeholders to discuss issues of extractive industry governance, and for the federal government to disclose data for the first time and accelerate the digitisation of sector information.

“Argentina has made encouraging progress in implementing the EITI in areas under the Federal Government’s jurisdiction,” said Helen Clark, EITI Board Chair. “I urge authorities to use the EITI to strengthen transparency further by making concrete plans for the next steps in its adapted implementation, with a view to ensuring comprehensive coverage of all provincial governments receiving material revenues from the mining, oil and gas sectors.”  

Foundations of systematic disclosures

Argentina’s government systematically discloses much of the data required by the EITI Standard. The legal and fiscal framework, production and exports figures and non-tax revenues in offshore oil and gas are routinely published in open format on the government website and the Ministry of Energy website. In March, the government launched the Open Information System for the Community on Mining Activity (SIACAM), which provides information on mining exports, production and employment broken down by province. There are opportunities for the EITI to further support provincial authorities with publishing data on mining activities within their regions and streamlining disclosures from decentralised government systems. As a partner of the Opening Extractives programme, Argentina could also make greater use of its EITI implementation to support establishment of a public beneficial ownership register for extractive companies.

Harmonising disclosure to inform evidence-based debate

The terms of Argentina’s adapted EITI implementation have allowed the government and EITI multi-stakeholder group (MSG) to focus on disclosing information on extractive activities directly under the national government jurisdiction, primarily offshore oil and gas. The MSG has also committed to engage with provincial governments, map existing disclosures of EITI data that are reported at the provincial level, and to pilot EITI disclosures in one or more provinces.

Having adopted a flexible approach to its EITI reporting, Argentina has foregone the process of reconciling government revenues with company payments. However, there is an opportunity to further develop the comprehensiveness and reliability of its financial EITI disclosures, with a view to institutionalising transparency in the government’s oversight of the sector. Translating transparency into accountability in the governance of the extractive industries will require engagement of provincial stakeholders in Argentina’s EITI process. Local communities have a right to know how their natural resources are being exploited, and provincial governments can strengthen their investment promotion efforts by establishing robust transparency mechanisms in their oversight of the mining, oil and gas sectors.

Strengthening the EITI’s diagnostic of practices

Having established a mechanism for annual EITI reporting, Argentina now has the opportunity to leverage its EITI implementation to provide a regular diagnostic of the rules and practices in the governance of the extractive industries. There is scope for expanding this diagnostic to assess practices related to licensing, contract disclosure, beneficial ownership transparency and the management of state-owned extractive companies. This review of policy and practice in the management of the extractive industries would help strengthen the Argentina EITI’s role as an instrument to support national reforms.

Validation scorecard

Latest Validation: 17 June 2022
Year

Assessment of EITI requirements

  • Not met
  • Partly met
  • Mostly met
  • Fully met
  • Exceeded
Component View more
Score

The three components of Validation each receive a score out of 100, as follows:

Low 0-49
Fairly low 50-69
Moderate 70-84
High 85-92
Very high 93-100
View more

Outcomes and impact

72.5 Moderate
Scorecard by requirement
Assessment
Assessment of EITI Requirements

Validation assesses the extent to which each EITI Requirement is met, using five categories. The component score is an average of the points awarded for each requirement that falls within the component.

Outcomes and impact

1.5 Work plan

60

The Secretariat’s assessment is that Requirement 1.5 is mostly met in Argentina in the period under review. Some members of the MSG consulted broadly considered that the objective of annual planning for EITI implementation supports implementation of national priorities for the extractive industries had been fulfilled, although others not represented on the MSG did not consider that there had been annual consultative updates to the work plan in order to achieve this objective. Argentina EITI has agreed and published one work plan for the first two years of EITI implementation (2018-2021). The work plan was drafted, approved and submitted to the EITI Board as part of Argentina’s candidature application on 19 December 2018. It is accessible on the EITI Argentina website. The work plan includes some activities related to the seven country objectives agreed upon by MSG members, although the link to national priorities is not explicit. The MSG has not updated this document on an annual basis, as required by Requirement 1.5f, and as planned in the work plan’s own specific objective 4.3. Nonetheless, the MSG has held meetings to revise and update some activities in the work plan and the work processes inside the MSG, such as defining and convening working groups to support the work of the MSG (MSG meeting No 1, 31 March 2020), and readjusting their objectives (MSG meeting No 11, 26 November 2020). The work plan appears to have been the product of broad consultations, with MSG meeting minutes reflecting that the process for developing the work plan spanned seven months. The 2018-2021 work plan is a clear and detailed planning document that addresses the priorities defined by the MSG. It covers the two first EITI reporting cycles for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 and includes activities to strengthen systematic disclosures, dissemination activities, impact evaluation and the extension of EITI implementation to provincial governments, companies and civil society organisations. The work plan is timebound, with sources of funding identified. However, figures and funding sources that are clearly defined for the first two years of activities are less clear for activities in subsequent years. There are no funding figures for most activities programmed for 2020 to 2021, and almost no activities are programmed for 2021. This could be due to the lack of systematic annual revisions of the work plan. The work plan includes activities to address capacity constraints to implement the EITI, as well as to follow up on lessons learned from EITI implementation and on recommendations from EITI reporting and Validation. The work plan sets out a goal to ensure systematic disclosure of all EITI relevant information in no more than four years after the publication of the work plan (December 2022). Regular discussions of the work plan and documented MSG agreement on updates to the work plan activities and timeline reflected in the minutes of MSG meetings as well as from Argentina’s December 2021 EITI annual progress indicate that the work plan is used as a monitoring tool for the progress of EITI implementation. However, it is of concern that the MSG has not held annual discussions on the work plan, as foreseen in the document, and has not published annual updates. The MSG could have made clear that, despite a change of government, priorities for the extractive sector remained the same or went through some modifications that could have been reflected in the work plan. Stakeholders consulted did not describe the work plan as a tool for holding the MSG accountable to broader constituency groups, which is one of the objectives of requirement 1.5.

7.1 Public debate

60

The Secretariat’s assessment is that Requirement 7.1 is mostly met in Argentina in the period under review. Stakeholders consulted for this Validation generally described outreach and public debate to be lacking in regard to EITI. While noting recent MSG focus on planning outreach and dissemination activities, most stakeholders consulted both on and off the MSG considered that the objective of enabling evidence-based public debate on extractive industry governance through active communication of relevant data was not yet fully achieved. However, while acknowledging the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on planned communications activities, the MSG argued that there had been considerable progress towards the objective of Requirement 7.1. While the disclosures made in EITI reporting are generally comprehensible, there was broad consensus in stakeholder consultations conducted for this review that there had been little promotion or dissemination of EITI data or disclosures. The MSG’s Outcomes and impact template submitted for this Validation highlighted the launch of the Argentina EITI website and several outreach and engagement events. It appears that most of these events were focused on engaging the participation of provincial stakeholders in Argentina’s EITI implementation, and not in an effort to disseminate disclosures in the service of public debate, as required by the 2019 Standard. However, the MSG’s comments on the draft assessment highlighted that the Momentum Sustainability Forum organised by the Argentina branch of the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL Argentina) in November 2021 devoted a session to the EITI, attended by national and international EITI office-holders. Evidence suggests that the MSG has discussed dissemination and outreach in general terms, and has made some efforts in engaging the participation of stakeholders at the provincial level. EITI Reports have been produced in Spanish language on the Argentina EITI website. The MSG has discussed dissemination and outreach in general terms, although there are no records of the MSG’s working group on communications’ discussions of considerations of access challenges and information needs of different genders and subgroups of citizens, even if such discussions may have taken place without being recorded. Nonetheless, the MSG’s comments on the draft assessment highlighted outreach and communications activities targeting Provincial Governments, university students and journalists in the period under review. With regards to university students in particular, the MSG’s comments highlighted presentations of the EITI to post-graduate courses on Environmental Law at the Universidad Catolica Argentina (UCA) in August 2019, and the incorporation of an EITI component in the EIKON Junior awards for excellence in institutional communications, which cover all universities in Argentina. The MSG’s comments also noted that Argentina EITI sent press releases related to the publication of the first EITI Report to more than 70 journalists from leading national and international media and news agencies. Despite some weaknesses in dissemination efforts, analysis of media coverage of Argentina EITI suggests that there has been modest reference to EITI Reports and processes in the Argentinian press between 2019 and 2021. Press coverage has primarily been in industry press platforms such as ‘Mining press’ and ‘El Inversor energetico’, though from 2020 there was also increasing coverage in in provincial media platforms such as ‘La Opnión Austral’ and ‘Minuto Neuquén’ and advocacy platforms such as ‘Poder Local’ and ‘Futuro Sustentable’. The MSG’s comments highlighted a mention to the EITI in El Clarín, a relevant national newspaper, in the framework of a university contest to improve communication about mining. Stakeholders consulted for this Validation suggest nevertheless that EITI implementation and reporting has generated little public interest, in part due to a misalignment between Argentina EITI’s emphasis on mining revenue disclosure and public interest in social and environmental issues associated with the extractive industries. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment explained that the Argentina EITI communications strategy had to be adapted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020, which was adjusted through the monthly meetings of the MSG’s Communications Working Group. The Secretariat recognizes that dissemination and outreach has been affected by the broader COVID-19 pandemic since 2020. However, the MSG appears to have sustained some outreach to the provinces during the pandemic in 2020-21. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment highlighted statements by provincial legislatures in Catamarca, Salta and Neuquen expressing support for the establishment of mechanisms to implement the EITI at the provincial level.

7.2 Data accessibility and open data

90

The Secretariat’s assessment is that Requirement 7.2 is fully met in Argentina in the period under review. Generally, stakeholders consulted for this Validation believed that EITI data was sufficiently open and accessible for reuse and analysis by the general public. While Argentina has not developed a standalone EITI open data policy, it has adhered to the general Federal Government’s Regime of Access to Public Information, which covers the terms of release, use and reuse of government data. Argentina’s 2021 annual progress report describes EITI implementation as in line with the country’s open data strategy. The MSG’s Outcomes and impact template submitted for this Validation indicates three national polices on open data, but there is no documented evidence of any EITI-specific open data policy agreed by the MSG, or reference to any MSG discussion of national open data policies in the minutes of its meetings. In practice, however, it appears that all EITI data and disclosures are made available in machine-readable and open data formats on government webpages for the hydrocarbon and mining sectors respectively. A review of these webpages nevertheless indicates that the mining portal has several broken links and that some information, such as project lists, are presented in PDF, rather than machine-readable format. Stakeholders consulted nevertheless argued that publication of data in open data format on these portals represented an improvement in accessibility. Argentina has published a summary data file for 2018, but not for 2019, although the 2019 EITI Report was only published in late December 2021, immediately ahead of the commencement of this Validation. In regard to systematic disclosure of EITI data, the MSG contracted a report on materiality, applicability of EITI Requirements and systematic disclosures in 2020. MSG presentations and discussions in connection with the 2018 EITI Report suggest that “more than 40% of applicable requirements are online.” Based on the MSG’s self-assessment of systematic disclosures in the 2018 summary data file however, it appears that there is limited progress in using the EITI to strengthen systematic disclosures to date. However, there are pre-existing systematic disclosures by the Federal Government. Thus, information on the legal environment, fiscal regime, production, exports and non-tax revenues related to oil and gas from offshore areas is routinely published in open format on the Argentina government website and the Ministry of Energy website. However, systematic disclosures on extractive activities governed by provincial governments, such as mining and onshore oil and gas, are significantly more limited.

7.3 Follow up on recommendations

90

The 2018 and 2019 EITI Reports contain substantive recommendations on how to improve EITI implementation in Argentina. Minutes of MSG meetings show that recommendations from the 2018 EITI Reports were discussed in detail by the MSG and incorporated into work planning. Consultations with some stakeholders noted that several of these recommendations were repeated in the 2019 EITI Report because they had not been sufficiently implemented. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG argued that it considered the objective of Requirement 7.3 as fully met given that there was a robust mechanism for consistent follow-up on EITI recommendations and the fact that some recommendations were repeated across the first two EITI Reports given the need for continuity in recommendations that took time to address. Although the MSG’s December 2021 meeting approved the 2019 EITI Report, recommendations from that report were not discussed. Although the Argentina EITI work plan includes general activities related to follow-up on recommendations, there is no documented evidence that the MSG had established a specific mechanism in practice for following up on recommendations and discrepancies highlighted in EITI Reports in the period under review. However, Argentina EITI’s 2021 progress report provided a detailed review of the status of each recommendation from the 2018 EITI Report, while identifying the relevant stakeholders involved in the follow-up. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment highlighted this follow-up on EITI recommendations, noting that the annual progress report identified recommendations that were completed and those that were still ongoing at the end of 2021. The MSG’s comments also noted that, despite the gaps in documentation, its mechanism for consistent follow-up on EITI recommendations consisted in the MSG’s oversight of the work of its Technical Working Groups, which were tasked with following up on past recommendations from EITI reporting. Generally, stakeholders consulted for this Validation described meaningful discussion and reflection in the MSG, consistent with the continuous learning process indicated by Requirement 7.3. The Secretariat’s assessment is that Requirement 7.3 is fully met in Argentina.

7.4 Review of outcomes and impact of implementation

60

Argentina EITI has only published one annual progress report (APR) covering the activities from December 2018 until December 2021. The report was published in December 2021 on the Argentina EITI website. Although EITI Argentina has not published progress reports on an annual basis, the minutes of MSG meetings show that the group has continuously reviewed progress in achieving the objectives set in the work plan as well as the recommendations from the first EITI Report. Argentina’s sole APR documents the activities conducted since Argentina submitted its candidature to become an EITI implementing country. It includes a self-evaluation on progress achieved in each of the EITI Requirements during the last three years. Given Argentina’s Board-approved adapted implementation, the APR provides an analysis of the requirements that were not considered for implementation by the MSG, as well as an assessment of the progress to date in meeting the terms of Argentina’s adapted implementation. The APR also describes the challenges that EITI Argentina underwent due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular regarding the inclusion of provincial stakeholders in EITI implementation. The APR includes a description of the progress attained in systematic disclosure and in beneficial ownership transparency. The period covered by the APR includes the publication of the 2018 and 2019 EITI Reports, although the 2019 EITI Report was published around the same time as the APR. The APR includes a full analysis of the progress achieved in following up on each recommendation from the 2018 EITI Report, published in December 2020. The report also includes an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of EITI implementation in Argentina. It includes evaluation comments made by MSG members from each constituency, which all highlight the challenge of extending EITI implementation to the provinces. As part of the MSG’s lessons learned from implementation in the APR, the limited impact of EITI implementation to date is briefly mentioned as a weakness. The MSG acknowledges more progress is needed in strengthening systematic disclosures and in maintaining stronger communication and accountability activities with companies and government authorities. However, there is no evidence that the MSG has reviewed the outcomes and impact of EITI on an annual basis beyond the cursory reference in the annual progress report. While the MSG has provided input to the development of the annual progress report, available evidence and stakeholder views suggest that the broader government, industry and civil society constituencies were not canvassed for their views in this process. The APR does not include any mention of gender-specific activities that were developed during the three years of implementation, nor as part of the issues that require additional attention in future. Minutes of MSG meetings indicate that it has carefully addressed gender-balanced representation in its discussions. The Secretariat’s assessment is that Requirement 7.4 is mostly met in Argentina.

Effectiveness and sustainability indicators

0.5

Stakeholder engagement

82.5 Moderate
Scorecard by requirement
Assessment
Assessment of EITI Requirements

Validation assesses the extent to which each EITI Requirement is met, using five categories. The component score is an average of the points awarded for each requirement that falls within the component.

Multi-stakeholder oversight

1.1 Government engagement

90

The Secretariat’s assessment is that Requirement 1.1 is fully met in Argentina. There is evidence of consistent public statements of government support for the EITI during the period of Argentina’s EITI implementation. These statements are made by individuals at the level of Secretary (equivalent of deputy minister) and only made in connection with EITI specific events or events related to the Open Government Partnership. Though Argentina’s candidature application included statements of support at the ministerial level, the only subsequent ministerial-level statement of support identified in this review is a government webpage describing “ratification” of the EITI by the Minister of Productive Development, in connection with a meeting with the EITI International Secretariat. The webpage does not include a specific statement or quote attributed to the Minister. Consultations nevertheless suggest that government support for the initiative is widely recognized. This is particularly the case following the change of government in 2019, insofar as some stakeholders expected a decrease of government engagement but described earnest recommitment of the incoming government administration in tandem with a mission from the EITI International Secretariat in March 2020. The government has appointed the Secretaries of Mining and Hydrocarbons as co-leads for the EITI process on behalf of government, and the EITI National Secretariat is hosted by the Secretariat of Mines, within the Ministry of Productive Development. The Ministries of Energy and Finance are also engaged in the MSG, as are other federal government bodies, at the level of undersecretary and director. Stakeholders suggest that the Secretariat of Mines is significantly more engaged than other government bodies, but that in general, government participates actively in the MSG. This is reflected in minutes from MSG meetings. The Federal Government (Secretaries of Productive Development and of the Economy) have led outreach to provincial governments, focusing on five provinces (Jujuy, Neuquén, Río Negro, San Juan, Salta) in particular. However, initial successes in provincial outreach were no sustained following the 2019 elections (see Requirement 4.6). Civil society stakeholders noted that government had no clear strategy for continuing this outreach, which they considered to be a weakness in government engagement. In regard to government commitment to resolving bottlenecks and barriers to EITI implementation, consultations highlighted several important barriers to disclosures in accordance with EITI Requirements, such as taxpayer confidentiality provisions of the tax code (‘fiscal secrecy’). While the MSG had reached out to the Federal Administration of Public Revenues (AFIP), neither the MSG nor government ever devised a mechanism for overcoming this barrier to government reporting, for instance a taxpayer confidentiality waiver to be signed by reporting companies. Rather, the MSG adopted a ‘flexible’ EITI reporting approach that required the government to only disclose an aggregate lump sum in revenues per material revenue flows, with disaggregated information from reporting companies on their payments to government. More broadly, there is little evidence of the Federal Government taking steps to overcome obstacles to government and companies disclosing information in compliance with the 2019 Standard, for instance by enacting clear policies on contract and beneficial ownership disclosures. Stakeholders presented different views on whether government funding for EITI was sufficient and represented significant engagement and support for the process. The government had made efforts to secure funding from development partners, and stakeholder consultations highlighted the fiscal constraints on government budgeting. Simultaneously, government stakeholders noted a significant increase in human resource allocations to the National Secretariat, manifest in both the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Productive Development. Most stakeholders consulted considered that the Federal Government had generally been actively engaged in the process, but highlighted the importance of extending implementation to provinces to enhance the EITI’s relevance and impact.

1.2 Company engagement

60

The Secretariat’s assessment is that Requirement 1.2 is mostly met in Argentina. Industry is represented on the MSG by the Argentinian national oil company YPF, the non-profit Argentine Institute of Oil and Gas (IAPG), and chamber organizations for the hydrocarbon sector and mining sector (CEPH and CAEM, respectively). While MSG meeting minutes and consultations suggest that these organizations have engaged actively in the EITI process, consultations suggest that wider industry engagement is inconsistent, particularly in regard to a lack of reporting by oil and gas companies. CEPH was not a signatory to the ‘Stakeholder engagement’ template submitted by the industry for this Validation. There appears to be a significant difference in the engagement of the industry constituency from the mining sector, where engagement has generally been strong, and from the oil and gas sector, where engagement has been limited to a narrower group of companies. Less than half of material oil and gas companies have participated in EITI reporting, with both Argentinian-owned companies and some foreign-invested companies not having submitted EITI reporting templates. Some stakeholders consulted noted that some oil and gas companies had perceived EITI reporting requirements as onerous, or had perceived the EITI process as being leveraged politically, which had resulted in lower engagement. Consultations with industry stakeholders did not suggest that stakeholders from the broader industry constituency had been actively consulted in order to provide input to the MSG’s work, such as the design of EITI reporting or implementation. Several stakeholders consulted called for greater leadership from both government and industry to expand and strengthen industry engagement. Nevertheless, industry associations and their members represented on the MSG have provided resources to EITI implementation, including through the provision of funding for the latest EITI Report. In regard to industry participation in provincial outreach, some stakeholders described a lack of outreach by industry MSG members, while others described positive responses from provincial industry to the outreach workshops conducted by government in the early stages of implementation. There is no evidence to suggest that industry has been active in EITI outreach efforts more generally, however. There is little evidence of industry efforts to resolve bottlenecks to reporting or to promote public debate around EITI data or processes, beyond reference to EITI implementation in industry association publications. Available evidence suggests there are no inhibitions or prohibitions that would restrict industry’s participation in EITI, though there are persistent barriers related to specific types of disclosures and activities. This is noteworthy in regard to taxpayer confidentiality rules (‘fiscal secrecy’) that have affected government disclosures of revenue and company ownership information. The MSG has not been able to develop a system of taxpayer confidentiality waivers or other mechanisms for overcoming these barriers in practice (see Requirement 1.1). There is also evidence that the terms of Argentina’s adapted implementation have been interpreted to imply that companies do not need to report on any activities at the provincial level (e.g., on licenses held or on social and environmental expenditures). This narrow interpretation of the terms of Argentina’s EITI candidature application could be considered to have limited the scope for industry EITI disclosures to date.

1.3 Civil society engagement

90

Civil society appears to be fully, actively and effectively engaged in all aspects of EITI implementation. There is an enabling environment for civil society participation in extractive industry governance generally and in EITI specifically. International NGO rankings of civic space in Argentina have remained constant during the 2019-2022 period, with Freedom House rankings of ‘free’, Civicus rankings of ‘narrowed’ and consistent human rights assessments by the US Department of State. There are constitutional, legal and regulatory provisions ensuring freedoms of expression and assembly, which appear to be upheld in practice. There was consensus among stakeholders consulted that there were no restrictions on CSOs’ engagement in the EITI process in practice. There is ample evidence of public statements and publications by civil society critical of both government management of the extractive industries and extractive companies, even if use of EITI data to date appears to have remained marginal to civil society’s research and advocacy on the extractives. Evidence suggests that CSOs do not face any barriers to registration, operation or funding, with all CSOs engaged in the EITI duly registered, cooperating with each other, raising funding from international sources and freely engaging in international partnerships and networks. While Human Rights Watch has highlighted the monitoring of over 400 journalists as part of their vetting for access to international events hosted by Argentina, there is no evidence of Federal Government surveillance of CSOs engaged in any aspect of the EITI process. The civil society constituency engaged in EITI is primarily based in the capital, Buenos Aires, although it has undertaken outreach to CSOs based in resource-rich provinces to encourage their participation in the EITI constituency. The civil society constituency has expanded to a group of around 20 CSOs as of 2022. This was the product of significant outreach in the 2018-2019 period, when Buenos Aires-based CSOs undertook regional workshops with around 30 participants at each to seek the consent of NGOs in resource-rich provinces such as Jujuy, Salta, San Juan, and Neuquén for the constituency’s MSG representation. Most CSOs engaged in research and advocacy on governance and extractive issues appear to be engaged in EITI implementation, with the exception of one prominent civil society organisation member of an international network normally engaged in the EITI, which refused to join the constituency. The majority of CSOs engaged in EITI appear to be research-focused organisations, think tanks and universities, rather than more grassroots activists and campaigners. Organisations at the subnational level centre much of their efforts around socioenvironmental issues and are more focused on advocacy and organizing than research. While there is evidence of civil society outreach in the provinces, the efforts appear to have focused on awareness raising and capacity building around the EITI generally, rather than a successful expansion of the constituency to provincial NGOs. However, there is evidence that Buenos Aires based CSOs sought to canvass provincial CSOs in the nomination of MSG representatives in 2018. This was attributed to funding constraints, despite support from development partners, and the pandemic’s impact on outreach from 2020 onwards. This is reflected in the civil society’s submission in the ‘Stakeholder engagement’ template, which acknowledges that sustained EITI engagement by provincial NGOs has not yet been secured. Other CSOs with operations both in resource-rich provinces and Buenos Aires such as Observatorio Petrolero Sur, Asamblea No a la Mina, and Fundación Ambiental y Recursos Naturales (FARN) have not been involved in the EITI constituency. Some civil society representatives consulted explained that these organisations were more focused on militancy and had left engagement in the EITI process to more policy-oriented CSOs during the original preparations for Argentina’s EITI candidature. A total of five CSOs sit on the MSG, with one full seat and one alternate each, which include three NGOs (Fundación Cambio Democrático, Fundación Directorio Legislativo and Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento (CIPPEC)) and two universities (National University of San Martín and the Catholic University of Argentina). Documentation provided for this Validation and stakeholder consultations indicate that CSOs are effectively engaged in all aspects of EITI implementation, including in playing a leading role in developing the EITI work plan, the design of EITI reporting, participation in meetings of the MSG and its technical working groups, as well as in EITI outreach and dissemination. There are mechanisms in place that provide civil society with access to public decision-making related to the extractives, both in terms of public hearings and free prior informed consent (FPIC) for extractive projects as well as, with the ratification of the Escazú Agreement in 2021, new safeguards for the protection of environmental defenders. The federal nature of Argentina’s republic mean that implementation of legal provisions can vary across different provinces, with only 11 of 23 provinces having implemented FPIC legislation as of 2020. Minutes of meetings and stakeholders consulted confirmed civil society’s view that the MSG provides the constituency access to decision-making. Therefore, the Secretariat’s assessment is that Requirement 1.3 is fully met in Argentina.

1.4 MSG governance

90

Argentina’s MSG has been active during the period under consideration, and the rules (ToR) dictating how the MSG operates are publicly available together with revisions to the rules made in 2020 and 2021. This ToR aligns broadly with aspects of Requirement 1.4.b and appears to have been adhered to in practice. The TOR notes that MSG membership is not subject to financial compensation (ad honorem), and that each constituency is responsible for nominating and appointing members to the MSG, following principles of presentiveness and transparency, with reports to the MSG. The constituency-specific processes are not delineated in the MSG’s ToR, nor in the governing documents of the civil society or industry constituencies, although each constituency appears to have their own internal procedures in accordance with Requirement 1.4.a.ii and 1.4.b.vii. The original appointments to the MSG in 2018 were reviewed as part of Argentina’s EITI candidature application and considered fair, open and transparent. There is no evidence of coercion or manipulation in regard to changes of MSG membership. Consultations with stakeholders suggest that all constituencies have been active in MSG meetings and processes, and that the MSG has been a forum for engaged debate. Consultations noted for example the vigorous debate that surrounded the procurement of an Independent Administrator. The MSG has established three permanent working groups, which include all constituencies as members, that address distinct areas such operation and regulatory issues, communication and public debate, and disclosure, respectively. Minutes of MSG meetings suggest that these working groups are active and contribute substantively to the MSG, though there is no record of the working groups’ mandates, procedures or written records. The MSG has also convened a monitoring committee and a special working group on the process of federalizing the EITI through the participation of provinces. The MSG is actively engaged in reviewing ToRs for EITI Reports and work plans and has met monthly since early 2020. Consultations suggest that stakeholders consider that the MSG is able to exercise adequate oversight of EITI implementation, but many stakeholders expressed reservations about the limited geographic (e.g., provincial) and topical (e.g. social and environmental payments) scope of Argentina’s adapted implementation to date. Inclusive decision-making is dictated in article 13 of the latest MSG rules, and consultations suggest that this has generally been adhered to. All MSG members consulted for this review indicated that they were able to raise issues in the MSG and were generally satisfied with how the MSG was governed. There is no evidence that MSG members are inhibited or prohibited from actively participating in the MSG and related processes. MSG members appear to have sufficient capacities and resources to exercise their duties, though some stakeholders consulted called for more huma resources for the national secretariat. Others described some financial constraints in regard to limited funding for civil society activities related to the EITI process. Others noted that the civil society constituency on the MSG was dominated by large, well-resourced organizations based in the capital Buenos Aires. Several consultations noted that smaller, regional-based civil society organizations tended to focus on social and environmental issues and were not directly represented on the MSG. There is evidence of significant outreach efforts across all three constituency groups. Stakeholder consultations nevertheless suggested that the MSG did not include some relevant stakeholders in all three constituencies. Most prominently, however, consultations highlighted the lack of MSG engagement with provincial stakeholders and with civil society organizations focused on social and environmental issues beyond the initial outreach in 2018-19. There have been government outreach efforts, but these had not yet resulted in significant engagement with provincial government due to a variety of political, procedural, and perception factors. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG explained that it considered the objective of Requirement 1.4 to have been fully met, and highlighted the MSG’s repeated discussions of the most appropriate ways of including representation from stakeholders at the provincial level in the MSG. This included outreach to provincial governments and the circulation of a note to all 23 Provincial Governments and the City of Buenos Aires to invite them to participate in the second phase of Argentina’s EITI implementation (see Requirements 1.1 and 4.6). The MSG highlighted its exchanges with Provincial Governments, provincial workshops conducted by civil society and industry events as important steps in strengthening engagement in extractive industry governance at the national and provincial levels. The MSG’s comments also highlighted statements of commitment or support from provincial legislatures in Catamarca, Salta and Neuquen as well as statements from the Government of Mendoza as important steps in expanding engagement in the EITI to provincial stakeholders. Finally, the MSG’s comments highlighted the development of a provincial outreach and capacity building campaign by Argentina EITI and the Lundin Foundation, which was being articulated at the end of 2021. While the Secretariat notes stakeholder ambitions to expand the scope of representation on Argentina EITI’s MSG to stakeholders at the provincial level, it considers that the limits on the current representation of such groups on the MSG are reasonable given Argentina’s two-phase adapted implementation of the EITI and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the piloting of EITI implementation at the provincial level. The Secretariat’s assessment is that Requirement 1.4 is fully met in Argentina.

Transparency

64.5 Fairly low
Scorecard by requirement
Assessment
Assessment of EITI Requirements

Validation assesses the extent to which each EITI Requirement is met, using five categories. The component score is an average of the points awarded for each requirement that falls within the component.

Overview of the extractive industries

3.1 Exploration data

90

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has fully met Requirement 3.1. Public access to an overview of the mining and oil and gas sectors in the country and its potential, including recent, ongoing, and planned significant exploration activities is provided through EITI disclosures. Information on oil and gas reserves and resources with significant economic potential are systematically disclosed online through the Geographic Information Visualizer and some mining information can be found through the newly-established Federal System of Mining Information, though stakeholder consultations confirmed that the new system was not yet comprehensive or updated pending full participation by Provincial Governments. The 2019 EITI Report adds significant value by improving the accessibility of this information on exploration activities by centralising data from various sources. While an overview of mining activities, solely under the jurisdiction of Provincial Governments, is provided through EITI reporting, the MSG does not appear to have yet undertaken a review of mining, oil and gas exploration activities at the provincial level nor mapped out any related existing systematic disclosures. Nonetheless, the Geographic Information Visualizer and the exploration and exploitation registers provide some overview of information on extractive industries under the jurisdiction of subnational governments. Systematic disclosures by larger oil and mining companies provide some information on exploration activities onshore and in areas under the jurisdiction of Provincial Governments.

6.3 Contribution of the extractive sector to the economy

90

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has fully met Requirement 6.3. The government systematically discloses information on the contribution of the extractive industries to the economy, information that is referenced in EITI reporting. Websites of the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INDEC), the Federal System for Mining Information (SIFIM), and the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (here and here) publish annual statistics on the contribution of the extractive industries to GDP, government revenues, exports, and employment. Argentina’s EITI Reports provide information on the contribution of the extractive industries to the economy (including to GDP, government revenues, exports and employments in absolute and relative terms), albeit often without specific sourcing or references to specific government disclosures, even if additional references to systematic disclosures are included in the Transparency template submitted for this Validation. It remains unclear from the EITI Report whether data on the extractive industries’ contribution to Federal Government revenues consists only of extractive revenues collected by the federal tax authority (AFIP), or also by the Secretary of Energy (SEN) and the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (MAyDS). The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment confirmed that data in the EITI Reports on government extractive revenues covered revenues collected by all three Federal Government entities. While Argentina has not included references to estimates of informal extractive activities such as artisanal mining in its EITI reporting to date, it is unclear whether credible third-party estimates of such activities are available. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment explained that EITI Reports to date had not included any information on artisanal mining given that the Secretariat of Mining does not have reliable information on these activities. Gender disaggregated data on employment is provided for both mining as well as oil and gas. There are discrepancies in total extractive employment statistics across different public sources such as Argentina’s 2019 EITI Report and the Transparency template. However, the MSG’s comments on the draft assessment corrected a typo in the Transparency template and confirmed that the same data should have been included as in the 2019 EITI Report. Overviews of the location of the main extractive activities in the oil and gas sector at the federal and provincial level is available through the Geographic Information Visualizer and in mining through EITI reporting and the SIFIM portal.

Legal and fiscal framework

2.1 Legal framework

90

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has fully met Requirement 2.1. The 2019 EITI Report describes the legal, environmental, and fiscal regime for mining and oil and gas, as well as the roles of Federal Government entities with regards to the mining, oil and gas sector, including in setting overarching policy under which Provincial Governments operate. EITI reporting adequately describes the roles and responsibilities of Provincial Governments. Relevant government websites provide the full text of laws and regulations referenced in Argentina’s EITI reporting, comprehensively covering the legal environment, fiscal regime, fiscal devolution and the roles of government entities. However, the 2018 and 2019 EITI Reports published to date provide only a cursory overview of ongoing and planned reforms in the extractive industries. The lack of a more detailed review of ongoing or planned reforms in both mining and oil and gas means that Requirement 2.1 cannot yet be considered to have been exceeded.

2.4 Contracts

30

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has partly met Requirement 2.4. Argentina EITI has listed and described the contracts and licenses found in the offshore oil and gas sector but has not documented a clear government policy on the disclosure of these contracts and licenses at the federal level or for the extractive sector as a whole. EITI reporting provides a list of all active offshore contracts and licenses in the federally-administered offshore oil and gas sector (albeit without listing the related annexes, amendments and riders where applicable), with the full text of the government decrees, administrative decisions, and resolutions awarding these exploitation concessions and exploration permits. However, the full text of contracts is not annexed to the government decrees and decisions. Stakeholder opinions differed on the public accessibility of the full text of contracts. Industry stakeholders consulted noted that all oil and gas contracts were public documents that should be published in Argentina, even if the government had not yet published all contracts online. Government officials consulted stated categorically that oil and gas contracts were not public documents. Argentina EITI has not published any description of legal barriers to contract disclosure, nor formulated any plans to overcome such barriers if applicable. There is no evidence that the MSG has yet reviewed the public accessibility of extractive contracts and licenses administered by subnational governments based on a review of public sources of information. It is unclear from public documents whether any new oil and gas concessions or permits have been awarded or amended since the start of 2021, though the MSG has indicated that the only bidding round within the scope of Validation would be the Round 1 process that began in 2018 and concluded in 2019. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG provides an extensive description of the availability of information on licenses and contracts at both federal and provincial level, including administrative documents awarding the contracts. However, the MSG’s comments note that there are no provisions in the Mining Code or Hydrocarbons Code related to the public disclosure of the full text of contracts and licenses, and thus explain that only provincial administrative instruments and national decrees granting concessions are published in the official gazettes. The MSG’s comments provide a full list of all active oil and gas licenses and concessions and highlight that a large amount of information on permits, licenses and contracts is accessible in the public domain, even if the full text of the licenses and contracts are not yet published. The MSG’s comments note that the full text of licenses and contracts is available upon request in line with provisions of the Law on the Right of Access to Public Information (Law 27.275) and that the National Secretariat of Energy and the National Secretariat of Mining effectively comply with these legal provisions. Finally, the MSG’s comments highlighted the EITI’s ongoing review of contract transparency in Latin America and noted that the MSG would discuss the findings of the EITI’s report on contract transparency in Latin America to plan appropriate follow-up measures. The International Secretariat welcomes the significance of these plans but notes that significant aspects of Requirement 2.4 remain to be addressed in the period under review in this Validation.

6.4 Environmental impact

Not assessed

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has made efforts to disclose regulation surrounding the publication and assessment of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) but has not yet documented how these rules and regulations are followed in practice. Given that Requirement 6.4 has not yet been exceeded, it remains marked as not assessed. Thus far, EITI reporting has not been used to provide an annual diagnostic of practices related to environmental management in the extractive industries. Information on regular environmental monitoring procedures, administrative and sanctioning processes of governments, as well as environmental liabilities, environmental rehabilitation and remediation programs has not yet been publicly disclosed.

Licenses

2.2 Contract and license allocations

60

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has mostly met Requirement 2.2. For mining, the 2019 EITI Report states that all licensing activity is undertaken at the subnational level and regulated by Provincial Governments. The MSG has argued in EITI reporting to date that Requirement 2.2 is not applicable in the mining sector given that Phase I of Argentina's adapted implementation, although it does not appear to have yet reviewed publicly-available information on mining licensing procedures and practices of any of the Provincial Governments, despite provisions in the adapted implementation requiring it to do so. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG noted that information on the legal framework at both the national and provincial levels is available on the Federal Mining Information System (SIFIM) website, providing relevant links. The MSG’s comments highlight an ongoing survey by the Secretariat of Mining (Project PNUD 017/012) of provincial legal frameworks to map licensing and license management procedures in each of the 23 provinces. With regards to (offshore) oil and gas activities regulated by the Federal Government, EITI reporting provides information on the award of permits and concessions. The 2019 EITI Report indicates that 18 exploration permits were awarded during the period in review through the Round 1 bidding that concluded in early 2019. A link to the list of bidders for each of the licenses awarded in Round 1 is disclosed online and referenced in EITI reporting. The EITI Report briefly describes the two permits and concessions that were transferred during the reporting period. While Argentina's EITI reporting has described the statutory procedure for awarding permits and concessions in the oil and gas sector, including technical and financial criteria, it has not confirmed whether the transfer of concessions and permits (or participating interests therein) are subject to the same procedures, including the same technical and financial criteria, as those pertaining to the award process. There is no evidence that the MSG has undertaken a review of non-trivial deviations from statutory procedures in permit and concession awards and transfers, nor provided any commentary on the efficiency of licensing and contracting procedures. Industry and government stakeholders confirmed that the technical and financial criteria used during the transfer of permits and concessions are the same used during the award process, although it remains unclear where this is publicly codified.

2.3 Register of licenses

60

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has mostly met Requirement 2.3. Given Argentina's adapted implementation, only federally administered (offshore) oil and gas permits and concessions are within scope, not onshore mining or oil and gas. There were a total of 25 oil and gas licenses (19 exploration permits & 6 exploitation concessions) active in the period under review. All information listed in Requirement 2.3 is publicly disclosed for these 25 licenses, with EITI reporting effectively centralising this information in one place for the first time. With regards to onshore oil and gas licenses administered by Provincial Governments, Argentina's license registers provide cursory information on oil and gas permits and concessions administered sub-nationally. While all mining licenses are administered by subnational governments in Argentina, public sources indicate that some of the 23 provinces maintain publicly-accessible mining license registers, although their accessibility and comprehensiveness vary, as some are either not publicly available or out of date. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG noted that all provinces are required to maintain a mining license register under the Mining Code. The MSG’s comments highlighted the Secretariat of Mining’s ongoing survey of license management (Project PNUD 017/012), which would also cover the accessibility of registers. The MSG emphasised that improving the accessibility of information on mining licenses under the jurisdiction of provincial governments was a key Ministry objective, in collaboration with Federal Mining Council (COFEMIN). However, pending completion and publication of this survey, the Secretariat's assessment is that Requirement 2.3 is mostly met.

Ownership

2.5 Beneficial ownership

30

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has partly met Requirement 2.5. The Federal Government committed to establishing a central beneficial ownership register and to ensure transparency in the ownership of companies at the UK Anti-Corruption Summit in 2016, although this commitment did not explicitly extend to establishing a public register. Argentina’s Open Government Partnership National Action Plan (most recently in the 4th NAP covering 2019-2022) does not include a commitment to ensure the transparency in beneficial owners of extractive companies, but rather to disclose information regarding the economic, legal and fiscal aspects of the extractive activities as noted in the MSG’s comments on the draft assessment. While there is a legal and regulatory framework for both the IGJ and AFIP to collect beneficial ownership information from all companies in Argentina, there does not appear to yet be a legal or regulatory framework for the disclosure of beneficial ownership information due to the interpretation of fiscal secrecy laws that hinder both the IGJ and AFIP’s disclosure of this type of information. Argentina's MSG has recently agreed upon a definition of beneficial ownership that sets a threshold (20%) in line with the National Inspectorate of Justice, the General Inspectorate of Justice, the Financial Intelligence Unit and AFIP, and covers all individuals holding capital or voting rights. The concept of 'politically exposed person' is defined in Argentine legislation. Argentina's EITI reporting indicates that beneficial ownership data has been requested from those companies participating in the second EITI Report. However, in practice, a total of only two mining companies disclosed information on beneficial ownership in the EITI Reports. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG highlighted the work of its Technical Working Group on Tax and Regulatory Matters (TWGTRM) in 2020 on developing the definition of beneficial owner and overseeing ‘voluntary’ reporting to the EITI. The MSG’s comments noted that beneficial ownership disclosures of reporting companies were in the first two EITI Reports. The TWGTRM had also undertaken an analysis of the legal framework for beneficial ownership disclosure, which was published in Annex III of Argentina’s first EITI Report. Given the complexity of the regulations involved, the TWGTRM had also developed an implementation plan for beneficial ownership transparency. The MSG’s comments also highlighted the significance of Argentina’s joining the EITI’s Opening Extractives programme and the designation of government liaisons. Yet there remain significant gaps in the public disclosure of beneficial owners of companies holding or applying for offshore oil and gas licenses in Argentina. It remains unclear from EITI disclosures whether beneficial ownership data has systematically been requested from all companies holding or applying for extractive licenses since January 2020. There is no indication that the MSG has yet undertaken and published a review of the comprehensiveness and reliability of beneficial ownership disclosures by all extractive license-holders and applicants to date. Legal ownership information for all commercial companies is collected by the IGJ and is said to be available upon request in Argentina’s EITI Reports, although consulted stakeholder opinions on the public accessibility of shareholder information for extractive companies were split. The MSG does not appear to have requested legal ownership information from the IGJ to test whether requests for public information are processed in a timely manner. There does not appear to be a central database of legal owners of extractive companies accessible online. Development partners consulted noted that Argentina EITI had participated in a working group with agencies such as the Buenos Aires IGJ, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and AFIP to progress on beneficial ownership transparency work. Several stakeholders from all constituencies highlighted the EITI Report’s statement that over 90% of extractive companies are registered with the Buenos Aires IGJ, which meant this was the natural entity to participate in beneficial ownership work. Argentina’s joining of the Opening Extractives programme was cited by several stakeholders from different constituencies as a positive step that could accelerate progress. While government stakeholders indicated that there was a will to work on beneficial ownership transparency on the part of some government stakeholders, none of the stakeholders consulted considered that the objective of enabling the public to know who ultimately owns and controls the companies operating in the country’s extractive industries had yet been achieved. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment argued strongly for the view that the overall objective of the requirement was fulfilled through Argentina EITI’s data collection efforts. They noted that the conclusions of a consultancy under the Opening Extractives programme included that most extractive companies in the scope of EITI reporting were registered with the Buenos Aires IGJ, but that it would be preferable to proceed with publication of beneficial ownership data through other channels than the IGJ in the short term. The comments noted ongoing consultations within government on the findings of this report, but that the MSG may consider applying to the EITI Board for adapted implementation on Requirement 2.5. While Argentina’s work on beneficial ownerrship transparency, including through the Opening Extractives programme, are welcome, the lack of an enabling legal and regulatory framework for beneficial ownership data collection and public disclosure hinders progress towards the objective of ensuring a public understanding of who ultimately owns compannies holding and applying for extractive licenses and contracts.

State participation

2.6 State participation

60

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has mostly met Requirement 2.6. Most stakeholders consulted did not express any particular views on whether the objective of public understanding of whether SOEs’ management is undertaken in accordance with the relevant regulatory framework had yet been fulfilled. However, several development partners and CSOs consulted noted the significant public interest in YPF’s financial management and considered that more work was needed to ensure that the objective of public understanding of whether SOEs’ management is undertaken in accordance with the relevant regulatory framework was fulfilled. The 2019 EITI Report provides a brief overview of the role of the SOE in the oil and gas sector, YPF S.A. YPF systematically discloses significant financial and governance information given the multiple jurisdictions in which it has publicly listed securities (Buenos Aires & New York City). Argentina’s EITI reporting has confirmed that YPF operates under Argentina’s Commercial Company Law, with its financing regulated in the same way as private companies. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment confirm the MSG’s position that YPF is regulated in the same way as any private-sector company with listed securities. YPF's financial statements are not consolidated in the state's budget and the only revenue flow connecting YPF to the government is the distribution of dividends to the state as the majority (51%) shareholder in YPF. Documents describing YPF's statutory entitlements to third-party funding, retained earnings, and reinvestment can be found either on the CNV website or in the section of YPF's website for investors. The most relevant documents surrounding statutory rules governing YPF’s financial relations with the state and its ownership of subsidiaries and joint ventures are YPF's Corporate Governance Code, Argentina's Commercial Company Law, and YPF's Consolidated Financial Statements. However, it is unclear from Argentina’s EITI reporting where information about terms attached to YPF's equity interests in extractive companies and its participating interests in extractive projects are publicly disclosed. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment explain that YPF’s financial statements provide information on the companies in which YPF holds equity interests. It remains unclear where information on any loans and loan guarantees from the state or YPF to extractive companies is publicly disclosed. While Argentina’s EITI reporting comments on the financial relations between the Federal Government and YPF, it does not comment on the MSG’s review of the existence of any loans or loan guarantees from the state to any other extractive companies or projects. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment note that YPF’s financial statements include information on any transactions between the company and related parties such as the Federal Government, including any loans and guarantees from the state to YPF. There is no publicly available evidence of the MSG’s assessment of any changes in state or SOE participation in extractive companies during the reporting period. Nonetheless, a summary of YPF's contractual arrangements is disclosed through the SOE’s 2019 Annual Consolidated Financial Statements published on its website. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment note that YPF’s website and filings to the U.S. SEC provide information on any asset disposals by the company. In mining, the 2019 EITI Report lists two active SOEs (Yacimientos Mineros Aguas de Dionisio (YMAD) and Yacimientos Carboniferos Rio Turbio (YCRT)) that make extensive payments to provincial governments but whose dividend payments to the national government were considered non-material. However, the MSG’s assessment of the materiality of these SOEs appears to have been based on the 2020 materiality study’s review of 2018 data, not on a review of financial flows in the period under review in this latest EITI Report (2019). While the 2019 EITI Report confirms the lack of transfers between the Federal Government and YMAD (which is majority owned by the Province of Catamarca) and the lack of dividends from YCRT to the Federal Government, it discloses a Federal Government transfer of USD 49m in 2019, equivalent to 1% of total energy subsidies that year. While the MSG’s approach to excluding the two mining SOEs from the scope of EITI reporting in 2019 appears reasonable in light of Argentina’s adapted implementation, there are gaps in public disclosures related to some aspects of YPF’s financial relations with the state, the terms of its participation in some extractive companies and projects, and the lack of a comprehensive review of any loans and loan guarantees from the state to extractive companies. These gaps supports the Secretariat’s assessment that Requirement 2.6 is mostly met.

4.2 In-kind revenues

Not applicable

Argentina’s 2019 EITI Report confirms the MSG’s view that Requirement 4.2 is not applicable, albeit without any further justification for this assertion. The MSG’s 2020 scoping study (materiality report) provides additional explanations for this assessment, noting with regards to the oil and gas sector the assurances from the Secretary of Energy and YPF that the state and YPF do not receive a share of production in-kind on behalf of the state. According to the 1967 National Hydrocarbon Law (with Articles 59 and 60 amended in 2014), the government’s collection of royalty revenues, the government’s only direct revenue from oil and gas production, is to be in cash, unless the state exercises its option to collect royalties in kind for a period of six months at least 90 days before the payment date. A review of YPF's audited financial statements and its 20-F filing to the US SEC does not indicate any in-kind revenues collected on behalf of the state. A select review of operating agreements, including the contract granted through the Magallanes Administrative Decision that is referenced in EITI reporting, indicates that the decisions granting PSCs requires payments of royalties to be made in cash, not in kind. There was consensus among stakeholders consulted that no oil and gas company made any fiscal payments to the government in kind at present. Commodity trader Trafigura disclosed in its 2019 Responsibility Report (p.28) purchases of a total of 195,100 barrels of crude oil from YPF valued at USD 11.6m in 2019, although the Secretariat understands this represents purchases of YPF’s commercial production. Therefore, the International Secretariat's assessment concurs with the MSG's views that Requirement 4.2 is not applicable in Argentina in federally administered extractive industries (offshore oil and gas) in the period under review. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment confirmed the MSG’s view that Requirement 4.2 was not applicable to Argentina in the period under review.

4.5 SOE transactions

60

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has mostly met Requirement 4.5. While there was consensus among stakeholders consulted that there was transparency in the payments from YPF to the government, with dividends disclosed through YPF’s published financial statements, there were differing views about the level of traceability of the flow of revenues from affiliate companies to SOEs. Consulted stakeholders’ opinions were split over whether the objective of traceability of payments and transfers involving SOEs had been fulfilled. Neither of the two SOEs in the mining sector were considered material in the 2019 EITI Report, which confirmed the lack of financial flows between the Federal Government and YMAD in 2019 and the lack of dividends from YCRT in 2019, while unilaterally disclosing the value of the Federal Government’s transfer of USD 49m to YCRT in 2019. In oil and gas, the 2019 EITI Report provides the government’s unilateral disclosure of YPF’s dividend payments to the state in 2019 and confirms that all other YPF payments to government are the same as private companies (and thus covered under Requirement 4.1). However, Argentina’s EITI reporting does not disclose any information on any extractive companies’ payments to YPF, if applicable. There is no evidence of the MSG or IA's review of extractive companies' payments to YPF, including from YPF’s subsidiaries, JVs and affiliates, to assess the materiality of transfers. While subsidiaries and joint ventures’ transfers to YPF may be disclosed at the required level of disaggregation and reliability in YPF’s audited financial statements, it is less clear whether any affiliate extractive companies’ payments to YPF are disclosed. There is no evidence of a comprehensive review of these systematic disclosures by the MSG in preparing the 2019 EITI Report.

6.2 SOE quasi-fiscal expenditures

60

The Secretariat's assessment is that Requirement 6.2 is mostly met in Argentina in the period under review. Several stakeholders from different constituencies highlighted the public interest in YPF’s expenditures, particularly at the provincial level, and considered that this issue had not been sufficiently discussed by the MSG in the early stages of implementation. Several stakeholders considered that significantly more work was required to achieve the objective of ensuring accountable management of extractive-funded expenditures by SOEs on behalf of the government that are not reflected in the national budget. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment implied that YPF did not undertake quasi-fiscal expenditures in the period under review, annd they explained that the company’s corporate social expenditures were comprehensively disclosed through its annual Sustainability Reports. However, the Secretariat’s view is that, while Argentina’s review of provisions related to quasi-fiscal expenditures in provincial legal frameworks is welcome, it has not yet developed a methodology involving extractive SOEs to identify and disclose any quasi-fiscal expenditures. The MSG has considered Requirement 6.2 as not applicable in its EITI reporting to date, albeit without providing sufficient evidence to support this assessment in any public EITI documents. Neither of the two SOEs in the mining sector was considered material for EITI reporting (see Requirement 2.6). In oil and gas, the 2019 EITI Report indicates that the MSG agreed that this requirement is not applicable at the national level in Argentina. At the MSG’s 9th meeting in October 2020, a brief discussion is recorded regarding YPF’s potential quasi-fiscal expenditures, principally through the development of infrastructure at the provincial level. The MSG’s October 2020 discussion concluded by indicating that more work was needed to identify QFEs, particularly at the subnational level, in Phase II of Argentina’s adapted implementation. A government representative stated that these kinds of quasi-fiscal expenditures are common in concession agreements and that these were always carried out at the provincial level. The MSG’s comments to the draft assessment provide additional detail on its discussions on quasi-fiscal expenditures. The MSG concluded that the legal framework in the provinces included arrangements that could be described as quasi-fiscal expenditures, but that given the adapted implementation framework, these would only be included in future reporting cycles. The MSG’s initial review of the legal framework for quasi-fiscal expenditures at the provincial level is welcome. The 2019 EITI Report notes that while Requirement 6.2 is considered not applicable due to Argentina's adapted implementation, which covers disclosures by subnational governments, disclosure of quasi-fiscal expenditures was considered of central importance in Argentina’s next reporting cycle that would extend to provincial-level reporting. However, while public documents reflect the MSG's discussions related to YPF's potential quasi-fiscal expenditures, they do not document any decision by the MSG on whether any expenditures by YPF could be considered quasi-fiscal. While extensive public documentation of YPF's expenditures in 2019 are publicly available through the SOE’s systematic disclosures, they do not categorise expenditures as quasi-fiscal and there is no evidence of the MSG’s review of these expenditures with a view to identifying quasi-fiscal expenditures. While arguing that the requirement was not applicable, the MSG’s comments noted that it planned to revisit the applicability of Requirement 6.2 in its future EITI reporting.

Production and exports

3.2 Production data

90

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has fully met Requirement 3.2. Oil and gas production volumes and values are systematically disclosed online both for federally administered offshore production and for onshore production governed by Provincial Governments. The Ministry of Economy’s website discloses oil and gas production volumes and values broken down by commodity sub-set and type of gas as well as by allotment, operator, field, well, province, and basin. While volumes and values are not disaggregated by project for the oil and gas sector as the 2019 EITI Report mentions, such disaggregation is only encouraged, not required under the EITI Standard. The Federal Mining Information System (SIFIM) publishes mining production volumes and values. The 2019 EITI Report explains that unlike in oil and gas, all mining companies of first category have a tax ID number (CUIT) tied to the specific project they are associated with. Given that disclosure and payment occur at the CUIT level, this means that mining production data is systematically disclosed by individual project.

3.3 Export data

90

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has fully met Requirement 3.3. Mining and oil and gas volumes and values are systematically disclosed through the Ministry of Economy's website and the SIFIM website and also summarized through EITI reporting. Both volumes and values can be disaggregated by commodity through the dynamic excel tables but they are not broken down by region, company, or project in oil and gas (such disclosures are encouraged, not required, in the EITI Standard). In mining, export volumes and values are disclosed by region of origin as well as country of destination.

Revenue collection

4.1 Comprehensiveness

30

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has partly met Requirement 4.1. Stakeholders from all constituencies considered that the objective of comprehensive disclosures of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining had not yet been fulfilled, although several industry representatives shared their expectation that oil and gas company reporting would significantly improve in the third EITI Report currently under development. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment argue strongly for its view that the objective was met and that Argentina’s two first EITI Reports “present quality information and reliable data”. Due to Argentina’s adapted implementation, the MSG’s work on disclosures of company payments and government revenues focused exclusively on extractive revenues collected by the Federal Government, i.e., tax revenues from mining and onshore oil and gas companies and both tax and non-tax revenues from oil and gas companies operating in offshore areas under the Federal Government’s jurisdiction. The MSG's decisions on materiality thresholds are clear for both the selection of revenue streams and of companies, although they are based on 2018 data reviewed in the MSG’s 2020 scoping study (Materiality Report) rather than on the basis of 2019 data. However, given taxpayer confidentiality provisions, the MSG has not been able to confirm the lack of material payments (e.g. for tax) from companies that were excluded from the scope of reporting, for instance through confirmation from AFIP (either before or after data collection, in an anonymised manner) that no company making material tax payments to the Federal Government was excluded from the scope of EITI reporting. The approach to selecting companies based on production and exports may not capture the full scope given the lack of correlation between production levels and tax payments to the Federal Government. The selection of material revenue streams based on 2018 data could also miss some companies making significant payments, given the potential changes in revenue profiles between 2018 and 2019 (for instance due to lower Income Tax payments by YPF in 2018). For mining in particular, the selection of companies based only on the nature of mineral commodities mined (i.e. selecting only ‘Tier-1’ companies producing metallic minerals, rather than Tier 2 or 3 companies producing industrial minerals, construction materials) without consideration of the materiality of non-metallic mining companies’ payments to the Federal Government, raises significant concerns over the MSG’s approach to selecting material companies for EITI reporting. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG noted that it had agreed to continue based on the same scope for its second EITI Report as the one for its first EITI Report because of the context of the pandemic and the "flexible” approach followed for the EITI Report. It noted the MSG’s decision to extend the scope of EITI disclosures to refunds, transfers and offsets received by extractive companies from the Federal Government in accordance with Value Added Tax Law No.23.349. The MSG’s comments emphasised that materiality decisions had been extensively discussed in the context of the 2020 Materiality Report and that the MSG had taken an informed decision to focus on Tier-1 (metalliferous) mining companies based on a variety of factors including that they were more foreign-invested, export-oriented and had generated more “social and political conflict”. However, the Secretariat notes that the materiality decisions were not based on the materiality of their payments to government. The MSG noted in its comments that it planned to revisit the scope of its EITI Report and related materiality decisions with regards to subnational payments in particular in Phase 2 of its EITI adapted implementation. While all mining companies and government entities disclosed the required data, only 8 out of the 25 material oil and gas companies reported, causing significant gaps in the coverage of government revenue data from the oil and gas sector (with only 34.83% of the Federal Government’s total oil and gas revenues covered by EITI disclosures, according to aggregate data disclosed by the Federal Government). The value of each non-reporting company's payments to government is not provided given taxpayer confidentiality constraints, as a basis for assessing the materiality of each company's omissions. The government's unilateral disclosure of total oil and gas revenues is provided. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG highlighted the systematic disclosures of companies’ payments to government in their sustainability reports, including both for YPF and mining companies through the Argentine Chamber of Mining Entrepreneurs (CAEM) website. However, the Secretariat’s review of these disclosures is that the level of granularity of disclosures vary considerably across different companies. The 2019 EITI Report also notes concerns from the IA over the lack of reconciliation given the "flexible" approach to EITI reporting, with doubts over irregularities encountered in the comparison of financial data disclosed by companies and government entities that were not the subject of a detailed investigation. Despite the flexible approach to EITI reporting and Argentina’s adapted implementation, there remain gaps in the comprehensiveness of Argentina's EITI reporting, both in the comprehensiveness of the federal government's unilateral disclosure of total revenues and in the significant weaknesses in material oil and gas companies' participation in EITI reporting.

4.3 Infrastructure provisions and barter arrangements

Not applicable

The Secretariat's assessment is that Requirement 4.3 is not applicable in the period under review. The MSG has considered the applicability of the requirement and concluded it was not applicable in the scope of Argentina’s adapted implementation, although there is scope for a more detailed review of whether any such agreements are in force ahead of future EITI reporting. Consultations with industry and government indicated that there were no infrastructure provisions of extractive agreements in accordance with the definition in Requirement 4.3 at the Federal level, but that there may be such infrastructure provisions in contracts with Provincial Governments. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG noted that it had approved the non-applicability of Requirement 4.3 in the scope of Phase 1 of Argentina’s adapted implementation, with reference to relevant MSG meetings in the 2020-21 period. While the 2019 EITI Report and the 2020 scoping study (Materiality Report) state that there are no infrastructure and barter arrangements in the oil and gas sector at the national level (the scope of Argentina's adapted implementation), the basis for the MSG's assessment is unclear from publicly accessible Argentina EITI documents. It remains unclear whether the MSG and IA have reviewed relevant agreements and revenue flows as a basis for assessing the applicability of Requirement 4.3. It is unclear from YPF's annual financial statements whether any of the expenditures covered by investment agreements involving YPF in the federally administered part of the oil and gas sector (offshore) include the provision of any public infrastructure in full or partial exchange of extractive exploration or production rights, or the physical delivery of extractive commodities. Minutes of the MSG’s 9th meeting in October 2020 record statements from public officials that infrastructure expenditures are a widespread feature of oil and gas contracts, although the MSG considered this beyond the scope of the terms of Argentina’s current adapted implementation given that they were undertaken at the provincial level. However, there is no public evidence of whether the MSG has yet formed a view of whether these provisions meet the definition of barter arrangements and infrastructure provisions in Requirement 4.3. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG noted that it would revisit the issue of identifying any barter-type infrastructure arrangements in future EITI reporting.

4.4 Transportation revenues

Not applicable

The Secretariat's assessment is that Requirement 4.4 is not applicable in Argentina in the period under review. The 2019 EITI Report indicates that transportation revenues have not been included in EITI reporting as they are not considered material in the period under review. However, no further information is provided in the 2019 EITI Report to document the MSG's assessment of the materiality of transport revenues based on 2019 figures. The MSG’s 2020 scoping study (materiality report) distinguishes between upstream oil and gas company payments for the transportation of hydrocarbons on the one hand and payments to government by private pipeline operators (e.g., taxes). The 2019 EITI Report states that pipeline companies are private in Argentina and the amount paid to the responsible government entity (ENARGAS) is considered immaterial, although it only provides the value of such pipeline company payments in 2018 as a basis for this assessment, not 2019 figures. It is assumed that the MSG’s assessment that these revenues were not material was based on the general 1% materiality threshold for selecting companies for EITI reporting. Despite the lack of documented review by the MSG of 2019 data, there is no evidence of material transport revenues collected by the Federal Government in the period under review by the latest EITI Report.

4.7 Level of disaggregation

90

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has fully met Requirement 4.7. Most stakeholders consulted did not express any particular views on whether the objective of enabling the public to assess the extent to which the government can monitor its revenue from individual projects had been fulfilled, although some civil society representatives considered that EITI data provided the basis for tracking individual projects. Despite concerns over the comprehensiveness of disclosures of material company payments and government revenues (see Requirement 4.1), the financial data disclosed in the 2019 EITI Report is disaggregated by government entity, revenue stream and company. The ToR for the 2019 EITI Report, which is publicly accessible, confirms the MSG's agreed definition of project. The MSG appears to have adequately scoped the specific material revenue streams collected by the Federal Government that are levied at a project level, even if it does not appear to have yet published descriptions of any projects that cover several substantially inter-connected licenses and contracts. There appear to be only two types of revenue streams in the oil and gas sector that are levied on a per project basis: royalties and exploration/exploitation fees. While this excludes mining, oil and gas revenues that are levied on a per project basis by subnational government entities, these disclosures are currently beyond the scope of Argentina's initial EITI reporting given its adapted implementation. In practice, company disclosures of payments to the Federal Government related to royalties and exploration and exploitation fees are presented disaggregated by individual project, although only 8 of the 25 material oil and gas companies participated in EITI reporting for 2019 (see Requirement 4.1).

4.8 Data timeliness

90

The Secretariat's assessment is that Requirement 4.8 is fully met in Argentina. Argentina EITI financial data has been published in a sufficiently timely manner in its first two rounds of EITI Reports (covering 2018 and 2019), and the MSG has approved the period for reporting. It remains unclear whether there are concrete plans by the MSG to improve the timeliness of reporting in future EITI reporting cycles beyond the Argentina EITI’s work plan activity related to ensuring the systematic disclosure of all required EITI data within four years of the start of implementation.

4.9 Data quality and assurance

60

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has mostly met Requirement 4.9. Most stakeholders consulted considered that the objective of the EITI contributing to strengthening routine government and company audit and assurance systems and practices and ensuring that stakeholders can have confidence in the reliability of the financial data was in the process of being fulfilled. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG argued that it has taken adequate and sufficient measures to ensure the reliability of disclosures of company payments and government revenues from mining, oil and gas. The MSG agreed to an approach for the disclosure of payments and revenues that is aligned with the ToR approved by the EITI Board for "flexible" EITI Reports. All relevant MSG deliberations and decisions related to the ToR, reporting templates and methodology for the 2019 EITI Report are documented in the public domain. All non-financial information in the 2019 EITI Report appears clearly sourced. The 2019 EITI Report provides a review of government and company audit and assurance practices in 2019 as a basis for agreeing quality assurances for EITI reporting. While eight of the 14 material companies in the mining sector publish audited financial statements that are referenced in the 2019 EITI Report, only two of the 25 material companies (or of the eight reporting companies) did so in the oil and gas sector. The quality assurances for EITI reporting by both companies and government entities consisted of management certification of the reporting templates, although these assurances were provided by all reporting entities. However, while the 2019 EITI Report includes a review of adherence to quality assurances for EITI reporting, it does not include a statement from the IA or MSG related to comprehensiveness and reliability of financial data on company payments and government revenues disclosed in the 2019 EITI Report. Significant gaps in disclosures by a majority of material oil and gas companies means that all material government revenues or company payments were not disclosed in the 2019 EITI Report to levels of disaggregation mandated under Requirement 4.7. Likewise, the lack of confirmation that all material extractive companies’ 2019 financial statements are publicly accessible raises questions about the reliability of company payments disclosed in the 2019 EITI Report. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG noted that it considered the data in the first two EITI Reports on company payments and government revenues from the extractive industries to be reliable given that the comparison of payments from reporting companies and aggregate revenues from the government identified differences that were not considered to be “very significant”. However, the Secretariat’s view is that weaknesses in company adherence to agreed quality assurances combined with the lack of statement in the EITI Report on the overall comprehensiveness and reliability of disclosures on financial data on company payments and government revenues from the extractive industries represent gaps in progress towards the objective of ensuring that appropriate measures have been taken to ensure the reliability of disclosures of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining, which has been mostly fulfilled.

Revenue management

5.1 Distribution of revenues

90

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has fully met Requirement 5.1. Most stakeholders consulted considered that the objective of traceability of extractive revenues to the national budget had been fulfilled since all extractive revenues of the Federal Government were recorded in the national budget. EITI reporting indicates that all extractive sector revenues included in the scope of reporting (i.e., revenues collected by the Federal Government) are recorded in the national budget. This was confirmed in stakeholder consultations. While the lack of evidence of MSG review of the management of extractive industry revenues at the subnational level based on public documents is a concern, given the significant value of extractive revenues collected at the provincial level, the Secretariat considers that the terms of Phase I of Argentina’s adapted implementation mean that these disclosures would have required the engagement of Provincial governments. Neither of Argentina’s two EITI Reports to date have referenced either national or international revenue classification systems.

5.3 Revenue management and expenditures

Not assessed

The Secretariat's assessment is that Argentina has made some progress in disclosing information on extractive revenue management and expenditure, although all encouraged aspects of Requirement 5.3 have yet to be addressed. Therefore, Requirement 5.3 remains not assessed, pending comprehensive disclosures of all information encouraged to be disclosed in accordance with Requirement 5.3. Stakeholders consulted did not express any particular views on progress in fulfilling the objective of strengthening public oversight of the management of extractive revenues was being fulfilled, although some civil society representatives considered that more disclosures on budget planning and assumptions would be welcome. The 2019 EITI Report and government portals such as the Ministry of Economy's website provide information on earmarked extractive revenues, the federal government's budget and audit procedures as well as some information on projections and assumptions underpinning the budget. While the two funds partly financed by extractive revenues are well-described, there are no descriptions of the methods for ensuring accountability and efficiency in the use of earmarked funds.

Subnational contributions

4.6 Subnational payments

30

The MSG has argued in its 2018 and 2019 EITI Reports and its 2020 scoping study (materiality report) that Requirement 4.6 is not applicable due to Argentina’s adapted implementation. There is no evidence that the MSG has reviewed publicly available sources of any information on revenues from the extractive industries collected by subnational governments, despite terms of Argentina’s adapted implementation requiring Argentina's EITI reporting to reference existing public sources of information on provincial governments’ revenues. While Argentina's adapted implementation means that comprehensive disclosure of direct subnational payments is not strictly required, there is evidence of outreach to provincial governments to encourage their participation in the 2019-2021 period, although this has been slowed by elections in 2019 and 2021 as well as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Stakeholders described several outreach activities that had successfully raised awareness about EITI within the Federal Government, as well as events targeting stakeholders in the provinces. The MSG held around three outreach events in provinces a year targeting a consistent selection of provinces (Jujuy, Neuquén, Río Negro, San Juan, Salta) while the Federal Government (Secretaries of Productive Development and of the Economy) issued two circulars to provincial governments about EITI. Provincial outreach was described as targeting stakeholders from industry and civil society, in addition to provincial governments, in line with Argentina’s two-stage adapted implementation approved by the EITI Board. Efforts to raise awareness and engagement with provincial governments have been unsuccessful in ensuring a formal piloting of EITI implementation at the provincial level to date, however. Despite multiple events and outreach efforts and early indications of interest from some provincial governments, including Salta and San Juan, no provincial governments have formally committed to implementing the EITI as part of the first phase of Argentina’s adapted implementation. Nevertheless, the MSG’s comments on the draft assessment highlighted statements by provincial legislatures in Catamarca, Salta and Neuquen expressing support for the establishment of mechanisms to implement the EITI at the provincial level. Stakeholders have speculated as to whether this can be attributed to changing political climates, or the Federal Government’s failure to engage systematically or consistently before and after federal and provincial election cycles. The example of the Salta Province was highlighted by several stakeholders consulted, who noted that the Salta Governor had agreed to pilot EITI implementation in 2019 before being replaced following elections shortly thereafter. Stakeholders consulted noted that there was no document clearly defining the government’s strategy of provincial EITI outreach, which they considered to be a weakness in government engagement. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG noted that the MSG had decided to prioritise awareness raising for provincial governments and civil society in light of the pandemic, with a view to formally inviting provinces to join the EITI in the course of 2021. The lack of evidence of the MSG's review of public sources of information is a concern, even if existing public disclosures on extractive revenues collected by provincial governments appears limited. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment noted that the review of publicly accessible information on provincial systematic disclosures of extractive data had effectively been postponed due to the pandemic. They highlighted plans to undertake a comprehensive survey of publicly available information on extractive activities at the subnational level. The comments noted that some information on extractive revenues was published by Provincial Governments as part of their Savings-Investment accounts published by the Provincial Ministries of Finance, but that this information was usually two to three years out of date (citing the examples of San Juan, Salta, Catamarca, Jujuy, Neuquen, Santa Cruz). They also noted that information on some extractive non-tax revenues (e.g., royalties) was published on the National Congress website, which was considered a significant step in supporting systematic outreach at the provincial level. The MSG comments also highlighted the publication of information on the sector in open format by the Secretariat of Energy. In the mining sector, the MSG highlighted the information now available through the Federal Mining Information System (SIFIM). While noting the gradual nature of collaboration between Federal and Provincial Governments on disclosures of information such as licenses and contracts given the provisions for provincial ownership of natural resources enshrined in Argentina’s Constitution, they noted ongoing reforms to develop tools to facilitate Provinces’ disclosures of licenses and contracts, such as the Mining Producers Register and SIGETRAMI. Nonetheless, the Secretariat’s view is that there has been insufficient progress towards adhering to the terms of Phase I of Argentina’s adapted implementation. While the context of the COVID-19 pandemic must be taken into account to explain delays in formally piloting EITI disclosures at the provincial level, the Secretariat’s view is that the lack of a review of public systematic disclosures at the provincial level of information required by the EITI Standard is an important gap that has hindered progress in fulfilling the objective of the requirement. Thus, the Secretariat's assessment is that Requirement 4.6 is partly met in the period under review.

5.2 Subnational transfers

Not applicable

The Secretariat's assessment is that Requirement 5.2 is not applicable in Argentina in the period under review. The 2019 EITI Report simply states that Requirement 5.2 is not applicable, although the MSG's 2020 scoping study (materiality report) states that there are no legal or regulatory instruments requiring the transfer of a share of extractive industry revenues collected by the Federal Government to any subnational government entities. While the minutes of the MSG’s 9th meeting in October 2020 indicate that there is a mechanism for 50% of royalties from some parts of offshore oil and gas production are transferred to a trust fund named ‘Austral’ for the benefit of the Province of Tierra del Fuego, the International Secretariat understands that those represent a type of earmarked expenditure by the Federal Government rather than a subnational transfer to the province itself. There was consensus among stakeholders consulted that, while there were significant direct subnational payments by extractive companies, there is no constitutional, legal or regulatory mechanism for subnational transfers of extractive revenues collected by the Federal Government in Argentina at present.

6.1 Social and environmental expenditures

30

The Secretariat’s assessment is that Requirement 6.1 is partly met in Argentina. Stakeholders consulted from civil society noted that disclosures of social and environmental expenditures were a priority for their participation in EITI implementation, with some expressing frustration at the lack of disclosures to date. Industry stakeholders consulted highlighted their systematic disclosures of companies’ social expenditures and their willingness to disclose this data in even more disaggregated levels in accordance with EITI Requirement 6.1, if requested. Government stakeholders consulted did not express any particular views on whether the objective of transparency in companies’ social and environmental expenditures had yet been fulfilled, although some officials noted the existence of an annual survey of mining companies by the Ministry of Productive Development’s Department of Mines, which requested (but did not yet publicly disclose) this information. In its comments on the draft assessment, the MSG confirmed that it had agreed on the non-applicability of Requirement 6.1 in the period reviewed by the first two EITI Reports, given that information “that is not of national scope” is not considered to be in the scope of Phase 1 of Argentina’s adapted implementation. Nevertheless, the MSG’s comments include a commitment to disclose company sustainability reports through the Argentina EITI website in the future. There is evidence that the MSG has considered the existence of mandatory social expenditures and environmental payments to government in preparing its EITI Reports, although the two EITI Reports to date, the 2020 scoping study and minutes of the MSG’s 9th meeting in October 2020 acknowledge the existence of obligatory payments to provincial governments but do not include the data due to Argentina’s adapted implementation. With regards to mandatory social expenditures, the MSG’s position has been that there are no mandatory social expenditures or contributions to funds administered at the federal level. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment reference the MSG’s October 2020 discussion that noted that the Hydrocarbons Law required company contributions to social funds that were received by Provincial Governments, while oil and gas contracts included provisions for the development of infrastructure, and that mining companies were required to make social contributions and payments that were channelled through trusts at the provincial level. Thus, the MSG argued that disclosure of these contributions was not required under Phase 1 of Argentina’s adapted implementation given that they were channelled “at the provincial level” and were considered to be “unlikely” to be economically significant. However, the comprehensiveness of the MSG’s review of mandatory social expenditures is questionable. The MSG appears to have reviewed the existence of mandatory social expenditures collected by the Federal Government but not the terms of contracts of mining, oil and gas companies included in the scope of reporting related to social expenditures to the benefit of host communities. Indeed, the minutes of the MSG’s 9th meeting indicate that there are mechanisms requiring both mining and hydrocarbon companies to contribute to social funds operated by provincial governments, although these were excluded from the scope of company EITI reporting given the MSG’s view that Argentina’s adapted implementation did not require disclosure of any financial flows to provincial governments. Some civil society representatives consulted noted the existence of mandatory social expenditures in the terms of mining companies’ different contracts. The Secretariat’s view is that this is consistent with the adapted implementation, but it would have been possible to request disclosure of social contributions to provincial government funds on the part of companies included in the scope of EITI reporting, if the MSG chose to do so. It would also have seemed possible to require material companies to disclose their mandatory social expenditures targeting non-state beneficiaries, without the need for additional disclosures by subnational governments. Several industry stakeholders consulted highlighted that extractive companies already disclosed information on their social expenditures through their corporate sustainability reports, albeit not to levels of disaggregation required by the EITI Standard. Thus, the Secretariat’s view is that the MSG could have requested comprehensive disclosure of material mandatory social expenditures from companies included in the scope of reporting, even within the context of Argentina’s adapted implementation. With regards to environmental payments to government, the 2019 EITI Report describes an annual environmental tax that is paid to the Hazardous Waste Directorate of the MAyDS, in accordance with the Hazardous Waste Law. While the MSG considered this revenue to be below the materiality threshold for selecting material revenue streams (see Requirement 4.1), it nonetheless included this government revenue stream in the scope of EITI reporting for both companies and the Federal Government in the 2019 EITI Report, at the behest of civil society representatives. A total of four of the 14 reporting mining companies disclosed payments of such environmental taxes to the Federal Government, with another four companies reporting such payments only to respective provincial governments. It is unclear from Argentina’s EITI reporting whether these disclosures are comprehensive of all material environmental taxes by extractive companies. There are significant discrepancies between reporting of environmental taxes by companies and by the Federal Government. The MSG’s comments on the draft assessment note that the significant discrepancies were due to some mining companies’ reporting of environmental payments to both the Federal and Provincial Governments, as well as the lack of MAyDS reporting of environmental revenues from two of the 14 reporting companies. While the reconciliation of these payments and revenues narrowed the value of discrepancies, it was not able to reconcile all discrepancies.

    Countries
    Argentina